Gershwin & Janza

Here is Gershwin's "Rialto Ripples" - my favourite Gershwin piece.

The other one, "Aviation Rag", is quite rare to find in its original edition. I managed to track the score down in the Library of Congress. The composer is Mark Janza which is believed to be a pseudonym for the original publisher, Albert Marzian. There are only a few pieces composed by Janza and this one, Aviation Rag, is better known from its subsequent edition by John Stark albeit a little different than the original score.

Enjoy the music.

Janza - Aviation Rag

Gershwin - Rialto Ripples

 

I had not heard the Rialto Ripples before though I knew the name. Not sure if this is Gershwin's best but surely he could do ragtime with the best of them. And both your performances, us usual, are impeccable in style and execution. Nobody does this better than you ! I particularly like the glissandi in the Aviation, they seem unusual in that the top note is omitted (or perhaps the top few notes). Is that how it's written ? It's a nice effect.

 

Thank you Monica and Chris.

I am so embarrassed to admit that this is the only Gershwin piece I play (besides his jazz standards, that is). I am rather slow at learning new pieces and there are too many composers with too many pieces to learn...

The two glissandi begin at A3 and E4 respectively and end at D6 both. I usually try to get their starting notes right and then aim for the E6 (first note of next measure) which is the most important. So, I guess the top glissandi notes are a hit and miss thing at this pace.

 

I would not have guessed, they sound very accurate and consistent, and I think the little gap is rather charming and idiomatic.

 

Oh, you mean the little gap. I'm afraid that's my cheating the glissandi.
No, the score dictates a smooth glissando to D6. No gap. But there is no way I can play it and at the same time feel absolutely confident that the next note (E6, next measure) will be full, clear and accented as it needs to be. So I lift the hand for a 16th or a little less. And, as I said, sometimes I don't even make it to D6.
I practised it at ridiculously slow tempi during the summer to get it even but I was compromised with the fact that a gap will always be there.
I am glad you find it idiomatic though.

 

It occurred to me as somethine that a native player of the time might have done, and it seems to fit well with the jaunty and jumping ragtime style. I'd keep it like this if I were you ! They don't need to sound like sumptuous Liszt glissandos. Come to think of if, glissandi in jazz/ragtime seem to be pretty rare, I can't remember having heard one before.